Her
first item was about Thamesmead. Peabody has finished the design for the next
phase of building around Coralline Walk and Tavy Bridge and a planning
application is to be expected “around February”.

Just the other side of the railway line
the Wilton Road Christmas Market came in
for a mention and 20 traders have made applications for grants which are to be
assessed today. (11th December.)

In just under two minutes Jane Richardson had covered all of her brief. It’s
hard not to like Jane’s approach to reporting. Clearly spoken, interesting,
brief and to the point.

Shop vacancies in Belvedere are under review. Up the hill in Nuxley Road or at
the bottom of the hill where the Tesco had shut, local councillor Seán Newman
wanted to know. Ms. Richardson spoke only about Lower Belvedere and “Tesco were being exceptionally coy as
they are entitled to be” but it was making her job difficult.

Cabinet member Linda Bailey
said there were plans for more Farmers’ Markets in Erith and elsewhere.

Councillor Brian Beckwith (Conservative, Blackfen & Lamorbey) asked for an
update about the possible regeneration of Blackfen. Mrs. Richardson said she was
bidding for £130,000 so there was no scope for very big changes. The cooperation
of local businesses is being sought, help with future maintenance may be required.

Councillor Danny Hackett (Labour, Lesnes Abbey) asked how many of the 20 Wilton Road bids
came from each side of the borough boundary which runs down the middle of the
road. The answer to that was unknown but it was hoped that all business that “put in a
constructive application would be helped in some way”.

Councillor Stefano Borella (Labour, North End) asked about “the massive void we
have just down the road from here”. I thought at first he had found another big
crack in the Broadway blocks but it transpired that he meant the hole on the
ground that Tesco had left behind.

He slipped in a comment about the failure to include an overage clause in the contract as advocated by
Labour at the time of the land sale. For some unaccountable reason the Conservative councillors decided
that laughter was the best response to being outmaneuvered by Tesco and the
resultant probable loss of a revenue stream.

Stefano went on at some length commenting on the lack of basic infrastructure to
support the new houses in Slade Green and the fact that social housing had
increased by only 32 in the last couple of years.

Ms. Richardson did well to remember all the questions. She said that in Slade
Green provision had been made for infrastructure growth but there was no money to build it.

On the subject of Tesco’s void “the owners have received a number of offers but
they have chosen not to share this yet”.

Acting
Chief Executive Paul Moore was able to add a little meat to the bare
bones. He “was in discussion with Tesco, the future would be mixed use, a
combination of retail and housing. I will decline the opportunity to open up the
box on what we could have done, there was another deal we could have done. In
terms of that site going forward I expect some news coming forward in the new
year and as soon as I can release that publicly I will share that with members”.

Councillor Val Clark mumbled almost inaudibly and aimlessly but it was something
about congratulating staff. Always a good move when failing to find anything
worthwhile to say.

Councillor Joe Ferreira (Labour, Erith) was pleased to have seen the market come
to Erith and that Parkspring Court and Pier Road might gain tenants for the long
vacant units there.

He also asked why all the town centres apart from Northumberland Heath had Christmas lights.
Ms. Richardson said they had all been offered money but North Heath did not respond. She
had chased them three times and the ward members too. The Northumberland Heath councillor
chairing the meeting managed not to blush.

Councillor June Slaughter was concerned about government proposals that would
allow local authorities to build starter homes on green belt land. Ms. Richardson was
suitably cautious in her reply but councillor Gareth Bacon was of the opinion
that Bexley’s green belt was often “scrub and really worthless land”. Some “looks
really untidy and something like that may benefit from some building development”.

The chairman ruled no more questions and moved on to more boring matters. Whilst
they did not come up for discussion the Agenda covered some subjects which may be of wider interest.

There is a lease is to be granted to a third party for Erith’s Carnegie
Building. There are unspecified changes afoot for “street parking arrangements” and after beginning
to issue penalties for moving traffic offences
(U-turns etc.) last August, Bexley council’s greed for money is to be extended. I imagine that
“Extending the method of enforcement” can only mean that the fixed CCTV cameras
installed at taxpayers’ expense to enhance their protection is now to be turned
upon them in order to further persecute the population. Life under this council
gets progressively more oppressive.